Connecticut gun dealers plead guilty to federal firearms offenses

BRIDGEPORT >> Two owners of a Newington business face a maximum of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 after pleading guilty Wednesday to violating federal firearms laws, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut said in a press release.

Brian Vanacore, 48, of North Branford and Greg Bodytko, 54, of Northford ran a gun store located at 2585 Berlin Turnpike, called BMG LLC. The company is also known as BMG Guns & Ammo. According to the business’s Facebook page, the Newington store was closed in December 2013.

The two were accused of having shirked a number of federally mandated responsibilities, including improperly recording information and failing to conduct background checks on firearm sales.

“It’s been an awesome experience these last 4 years but do to the changes in the CT gun laws we are forced to close our Newington store due to lack of business,” a post on the page reads. “If you need to get in touch with us you can send us a message through Facebook.”

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During summer 2013, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a routine inspection of BMG’s Newington store, according to the release. That inspection revealed the owners purchased several firearms, machine guns and silencers, but had not changed the registration information with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. As a result, each of the 15 firearms purchased remained registered to the individual who sold them to BMG, the release said.

BMG’s owners failed to report the sale of multiple handguns to the same individual, and to record the acquisition and disposition of hundreds of firearms. Officials also found the business did not conduct background checks for firearms sales on at least 10 occasions and failed to obtain federally mandated information from customers, the release said.

Each pleaded guilty to one count of failing to keep a complete and accurate written record in its acquisition and disposition records for firearms, and one count of failing to report the multiple sale of handguns. Vanacore also entered a guilty plea on behalf of the business to one count of making false entries in dealer’s records.

Vanacore and BMG are scheduled to be sentenced May 28 in Hartford. Bodytko is scheduled to be sentenced June 6.